New Delhi, April 18 (NationPress) The Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, announced that India is transitioning from “blind exploration” to a data-driven approach in resource discovery, highlighting the importance of fostering a collaborative and transparent data ecosystem.

The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) hosted a conference titled ‘Data Driven Exploration’, aimed at engaging industry stakeholders to boost India’s exploration results through an enhanced data ecosystem, aligning with the nation’s broader agenda under the Samudra Manthan-National Offshore Mission, as stated by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Chaired by Neeraj Mittal, Secretary of the Ministry, the conference attracted more than 80 participants, including ministry officials, DGH representatives, national oil firms, and international exploration and production (E&P) companies like BP, ExxonMobil, and Shell, along with private entities such as Adani Welspun Exploration.

The discussions centered on the pivotal role of seismic data in driving successful exploration outcomes, particularly with a renewed emphasis on offshore and frontier basin development.

“During the Data-Led Exploration Conference, we reiterated a fundamental truth: exploration thrives on shared knowledge rather than isolated data,” the Minister shared on social media platform X.

He further stated that by cultivating a multi-client data ecosystem that encourages broader participation in analysis and innovation, India is transforming the traditional perception of exploration and production as unpredictable.

“The more perspectives we have on the data, the higher the potential discoveries beneath our oceans,” Puri remarked.

Under the Samudra Manthan initiative, India is unlocking its offshore capabilities through transparency, collaboration, and advanced technologies, with the goal of achieving energy self-reliance.

Conference attendees underscored that the availability, quality, and accessibility of seismic data are crucial factors for exploration success.

They noted that deficiencies in data coverage, especially in frontier and deepwater basins, hinder investment and exploration activities.

The industry also called for expedited and focused seismic data acquisition in line with forthcoming licensing rounds, emphasizing that timely data access enhances investor engagement.

Multi-client seismic models were identified as a viable strategy for improving cost efficiency and widening participation, particularly in under-explored basins, though a measured approach was advised considering India’s basin maturity and current data frameworks.

The government’s role in fortifying the data ecosystem was also highlighted, including the need for policy support, ongoing investment in data collection, and enhanced data accessibility.

Participants further emphasized the necessity of robust procurement and execution frameworks, encouraging engagement with multiple service providers and the adoption of quality-cum-cost-based methods to ensure prompt and high-quality data acquisition, as conveyed by the government.